Adex Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE:ADE) has announced that it has engaged Xstrata Process Support of Sudbury, Ontario to test the pyrometallurgical options for the extraction of tin metal from tin concentrate planned to be produced from the North Zone at Adex' wholly-owned Mount Pleasant Mine Property located in south-western New Brunswick, Canada.
The report of a preliminary assessment of the NZ completed by Adex in early 2010 proposed only the production and sale of tin concentrate from the NZ. However, due to recent advances in small scale pyrometallurgical (smelting) technologies and following discussions with XPS, Adex believes that the potential production of tin metal, as a final saleable product, could have a significant positive impact on the economics of a mining operation at the NZ.
Consequently, XPS has been engaged to perform Phase 1 pyrometallurgical test work to determine the options for the extraction of tin metal from tin concentrate. The objectives and key deliverables of this test work include the following: a) thermo-chemical modeling of the tin smelting process and the determination of preliminary operating parameters; b) crucible testing of NZ concentrate for the tin smelting process; and c) conceptual flowsheet development. This test work, which is anticipated to take between 6-10 weeks to complete, is expected to lead to additional work for the production of a final tin metal product as an important option for consideration within a definitive feasibility study on the NZ due to commence in early 2011.
Source: Adex Mining Inc.